Steve Langasek <vorlon@debian.org> wrote: [...]
> On Wed, Aug 30, 2006 at 08:26:56PM -0400, Nathanael Nerode wrote:
> > Should the ftpmasters, who have even less legal expertise,
>
> Judging by some of the nonsense that debian-legal is typically riddled with,
It's generally quite easy to spot the nonsense. Look for telltale signs like:
1. over-use of authoritative statements and guesswork (such as 'many people
X' or 'most people X' instead of 'some people X') to support a weak argument;
2. refusing to explain reasoning which leads to a conclusion;
3. failure to give references to past discussions unless pressed.
(Observant readers will have spotted parts of 1, 2 and 3 in support of
several of the proposed GRs.)
It's a shame that we have to play 'spot the nonsense' but that's how the
weakly-moderated debian lists seem to work when the cost of gathering
data about the possible solutions is so high.
> if I were an ftpmaster I would find that claim insulting.
Could it be insulting but accurate? Brains out on the table, please!
How many ftpmasters:
a) have previously been involved in copyright cases;
b) have previously been involved in trademark or patent cases;
c) are currently studying for a legal qualification; or
d) are currently employed as legal experts?
> The only claim to expertise that debian-legal has is in the area of
> analyzing license terms and how they stack up against the requirements of
> the DFSG. That is an important function, but it is *not* legal expertise.
There have been debian-legal contributors in each of the above categories,
(examples OTTOMH:
a. me
c. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/06/msg00197.html
d. http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/08/msg00133.html
) although some don't stick around long because of the 'spot the nonsense'
contests. The qualified experts are mostly quiet in the DFSG-comparison
threads, as that's mostly not a legal expertise subject and tends to draw
quite offensive personal abuse from some contributors. Some other stuff,
like permission to distribute, is more obviously linked to law.
Hope that explains,
--
MJR/slef
My Opinion Only: see http://people.debian.org/~mjr/
Please follow http://www.uk.debian.org/MailingLists/#codeofconduct